1hr decant. Expressive nose of red cherry, cranberry, vanilla (oak comes through). Bright & tart up front, but it mellowed out over the course of the evening. Drinks well with some air, but would also benefit from a couple of years in the cellar.
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Literally made my mouth water smelling it from the glass--Kalamata olive, smoked game, basil oil, white pepper, violet. The level of complexity is mind warping--as it opens up, roasted peppers, thyme, mulberry, and a sanguine character come into play. Mid-weight, medium plus acidity, rounded mid-palate, herbaceous finish. Ripe, but grippy tannins, with a mild bitterness on the finish that didn't shake fully with air.
I am increasingly thinking this vintage needs like 5-7 years to knit together, with the 'raw' flavors and ripping acidity likely to integrate. The finish held back this bottle a bit (and very well could improve), but otherwise this was like a M.C. Escher or perhaps a Hieronymus Bosch for the gustatory senses.
Tasting Room visit. Aromas of black cherry & plum, peppercorn, mint, mesquite smoke, five spice. Dense and complex on the palate, fresh red and dark fruit with lavender, black tea spices and pepper. Medium bodied, finely textured, dense, with nice acid and round fleshy tannins and nice intensity and length to the finish.
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Green and savory fruit. A little bit more tart and hard and green. In its own way of still having Cali fruit and some lushness to it. Most concentrated and biggest wine they are telling me. I'm told it begs for food and actually, I betcha it would be pretty awesome with some food.
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Moderate sized pour at tasting room. Consistent with prior note, though worth adding the nose really emphasized incense-like lavender and violets, alongside primary, almost grapey aromas. Really enveloping, deep and layered from nose to finish . . . .
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Dark ruby red in appearance. Savory and meaty on the nose with black pepper and a hint of greenery. Medium tannins (6.5/10) with a medium plus to full body. Black fruits on the palate with bacon fat and a little spice. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2032.
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Melville Spring 2022 Pickup Tasting (Melville Santa Barbara Tasting Room): Deep, complex whole cluster aromas, on top of lavender and mulberry. Enveloping palate, concentrated, structured, mixes deep cool climate Syrah character with whole cluster profile. Drink or hold, great now or for a decade plus.
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Tasted at SB tasting room. I'm continuing to slightly prefer Melville's Syrahs to their PN. This is unabashedly cool climate, whole cluster Syrah--violets, basil, white pepper, thyme and black fruit. Meal in a glass.
I did find this less differentiated relative to the current Estate Syrah (2018) in terms of profile. Definitely it is more structured and needs 3-5 years laying down, though didn't seem quite as exotic as 2017 or 2018 releases at this point.
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11/5/2023 - wdcwineguys Likes this wine: 92 Points
1hr decant. Expressive nose of red cherry, cranberry, vanilla (oak comes through). Bright & tart up front, but it mellowed out over the course of the evening. Drinks well with some air, but would also benefit from a couple of years in the cellar.
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4/7/2023 - Rond Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tart, with notes of smoke and spice, dried cranberry, and tobacco. Nicely balanced.
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1/28/2023 - Cabfrancophile Likes this wine: 92 Points
Literally made my mouth water smelling it from the glass--Kalamata olive, smoked game, basil oil, white pepper, violet. The level of complexity is mind warping--as it opens up, roasted peppers, thyme, mulberry, and a sanguine character come into play. Mid-weight, medium plus acidity, rounded mid-palate, herbaceous finish. Ripe, but grippy tannins, with a mild bitterness on the finish that didn't shake fully with air.
I am increasingly thinking this vintage needs like 5-7 years to knit together, with the 'raw' flavors and ripping acidity likely to integrate. The finish held back this bottle a bit (and very well could improve), but otherwise this was like a M.C. Escher or perhaps a Hieronymus Bosch for the gustatory senses.
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11/25/2022 - MattMauldin Likes this wine:
Tasting Room visit. Aromas of black cherry & plum, peppercorn, mint, mesquite smoke, five spice. Dense and complex on the palate, fresh red and dark fruit with lavender, black tea spices and pepper. Medium bodied, finely textured, dense, with nice acid and round fleshy tannins and nice intensity and length to the finish.
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10/25/2022 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Green and savory fruit. A little bit more tart and hard and green. In its own way of still having Cali fruit and some lushness to it. Most concentrated and biggest wine they are telling me. I'm told it begs for food and actually, I betcha it would be pretty awesome with some food.
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8/21/2022 - Cabfrancophile Likes this wine:
Moderate sized pour at tasting room. Consistent with prior note, though worth adding the nose really emphasized incense-like lavender and violets, alongside primary, almost grapey aromas. Really enveloping, deep and layered from nose to finish . . . .
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8/16/2022 - Thomas D Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Medium purple color; curious nose of dill and leather overwhelming any fruit aromas. Full bodied heavy unpleasant flavors
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6/13/2022 - Millennial Drinkers wrote: 94 Points
Dark ruby red in appearance. Savory and meaty on the nose with black pepper and a hint of greenery. Medium tannins (6.5/10) with a medium plus to full body. Black fruits on the palate with bacon fat and a little spice. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2032.
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5/20/2022 - Cabfrancophile wrote:
Melville Spring 2022 Pickup Tasting (Melville Santa Barbara Tasting Room): Deep, complex whole cluster aromas, on top of lavender and mulberry. Enveloping palate, concentrated, structured, mixes deep cool climate Syrah character with whole cluster profile. Drink or hold, great now or for a decade plus.
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3/1/2022 - Adamb2 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Peppery Syrah. Strong wine. Paired really well worth steak and a peppercorn truffle sauce.
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12/13/2021 - ewsds Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lean and flavorful Syrah with bright blue fruits, white pepper, stout structure. Better on day 2 than day 1 initially. Bright future for this Syrah.
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11/6/2021 - Cabfrancophile wrote:
Tasted at SB tasting room. I'm continuing to slightly prefer Melville's Syrahs to their PN. This is unabashedly cool climate, whole cluster Syrah--violets, basil, white pepper, thyme and black fruit. Meal in a glass.
I did find this less differentiated relative to the current Estate Syrah (2018) in terms of profile. Definitely it is more structured and needs 3-5 years laying down, though didn't seem quite as exotic as 2017 or 2018 releases at this point.
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